Beginner DM Guide: Prep Less, Run More

If you’re new to DMing, you don’t need more lore. You need a simple plan for what happens next, and a way to keep track of what the table changes.

Main question this guide answers

Think in scenes, not chapters. Prep a small set of beats, keep your NPC goals clear, and write down consequences as they happen so the next session starts clean.

Before Session 1 (a beginner checklist)

• •Pick a starting hook that creates an immediate problem the party can act on.
• •Choose one main location and 2-3 NPCs you can roleplay quickly.
• •Decide what success looks like, and what changes if the party fails or leaves.
• •Prepare one simple combat or challenge, plus one social scene.
• •Write one sentence that sets the tone and read it at the table.

The 30-minute prep formula

If you have 30 minutes, this is enough. It gives you structure without scripting the table.

• •1 hook: what’s the immediate problem the party can act on?
• •3 beats: three scenes that could happen (not a script).
• •1 twist: one surprise if the table needs energy.
• •1 reward: something tangible (treasure, ally, info, or leverage).

How to run a session (simple timeline)

• •0-2 minutes: recap last session and restate the current goal.
• •2-10 minutes: start with the hook and ask each player what they do first.
• •10-45 minutes: run Beat 1 (problem) and end on a choice point.
• •45-90 minutes: run Beat 2 (complication) and show the cost of choices.
• •90-130 minutes: run Beat 3 (payoff) and deliver a reward or consequence.
• •Last 5 minutes: ask “What do you do next?” and write the next hook in one sentence.

Run the session like a rhythm

• •Recap (2 minutes): last session + what’s at stake now.
• •Spotlight (5 minutes): give each player one meaningful moment early.
• •Three beats: problem → complication → payoff.
• •Close (3 minutes): write down consequences and the next hook.

What to write down during play

• •Names: new NPCs, places, and factions the party interacts with.
• •Promises: deals made, threats spoken, and vows the party cares about.
• •Consequences: what changed in the world because of player choices.
• •Loot: what you gave out and why it matters.
• •Next hook: one sentence for how the next session starts.

Use safety tools early (it makes DMing easier)

Safety tools aren’t extra work. They reduce uncertainty. A simple lines and veils check keeps the table comfortable and makes improvising smoother.

How to improvise without panic

• •Ask a leading question: “What rumor did you hear about this place?”
• •Offer two clear options: “Do you chase the thief or protect the wagon?”
• •Choose a consequence, not a plot: decide what changes if they succeed or fail.
• •Write it down immediately so it stays consistent next session.

After the session (10 minutes)

• •Write a 5-8 sentence recap while it’s fresh.
• •Update quest status and add one note about what changed.
• •Update any NPC goals that shifted because of player actions.
• •Write the next session’s hook in one sentence.

Why Notion helps beginners

Notion is a great beginner DM tool because it keeps everything connected. Your session page can link to the NPC, which links to the location, which links to the faction, so you’re never hunting through notes.

• •You run from one session page instead of flipping between documents.
• •Every name is clickable, so answers are one click away during play.
• •Recaps create continuity, so you start the next session confidently.